Why does PSG let players wear shirts with names in Korean?

With Lee Kang-in's commercial influence greater than Kylian Mbappe's this season, PSG decided to show their gratitude to the Korean audience in the victory over Le Havre in Ligue I on December 3.

According to Diario AS , the best-selling PSG jersey this season is not Mbappe's, but new signing Kang-in's. Before each match, many Korean fans living in Paris come to the stadium to buy the midfielder's jersey. Thanks to them, the number of spectators at the Parc des Princes this season has also increased by 20%, according to the club's website.

Lee Kang-in (left) and Carlos Soler in the match between PSG and host Le Havre at Oceane Stadium, France, round 14 of Ligue 1 on December 3, 2023. Photo: Goal — Lee Kang-in (left) and Carlos Soler in the match between PSG and host Le Havre at Oceane Stadium, France, round 14 of Ligue 1 on December 3, 2023. Photo: *Goal*

On Tuesday night, November 28, Lisa - a singer from the famous Korean girl group Blackpink - also appeared at the Parc des Princes to watch the home team play Newcastle in the Champions League group stage. Afterwards, she met the club's president Nasser Al Khelaifi, and received a jersey with the number 75 and Lisa's name.

Born in 2001, Kang-in became famous in Korea at the age of five, due to his early talent in football and his participation in a sports television show. At the age of 10, Kang-in joined Valencia's youth academy and remained with the team until 2021. After two seasons at Mallorca, he left Spain to join PSG for a transfer fee of 24 million USD. He helped Korea become runner-up at the 2019 U20 World Cup, then won the gold medal at the 19th Asian Games.

Lisa was born in Buriram in 1997 to a Thai mother and a Swiss adoptive father. She joined YG Entertainment in South Korea at the age of 13, before debuting with Blackpink in 2016. Seven years after their debut, Blackpink is considered the most famous girl group in the world, with Lisa as one of the four members.

The match between Le Havre and PSG takes place at 1pm Paris time, or 9pm Seoul time. PSG rarely plays so early, apart from the fact that it suits the Korean audience. Taking advantage of these factors, the team's management used special jerseys for the match, with the players' names written entirely in Korean.

All PSG jerseys for the match against Le Havre on December 3 had the player names printed in Korean. Photo: Reuters — All PSG jerseys for the match against Le Havre on December 3 had the player names printed in Korean. Photo: *Reuters*

PSG's marketing director in Asia is Sebastien Wasels. He revealed that Kang-in is the first famous Asian player to play for PSG. Therefore, they want to take advantage of this opportunity to promote the team to Asia. Korea has also become PSG's second largest market, after France.

PSG's plan worked as they beat hosts Le Havre 2-0, despite goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma being sent off in the 10th minute. Kang-in played the full 90 minutes, although he did not assist or score. After missing the 19th Asian Games, the 22-year-old midfielder is slowly adapting to PSG's style of play, and has taken over as a starter while 17-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is out injured.

Hoang An

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